The night after Kai officially moved to Sword Saint Peak, he found himself unable to sleep. The mountain was eerily quiet, just wind and distant bird calls.
He stepped outside and found Yuhan sitting on the edge of the cliff, legs dangling over the void, looking at the stars.
"Can't sleep either?" Yuhan asked without turning around.
"Too much has happened too fast." Kai sat beside him, close enough that their shoulders touched. "A month ago I was an outer disciple everyone pitied. Now I'm at Core Formation, living on Sword Saint Peak with you."
"Regretting it?"
"Never." Kai looked at Yuhan's profile, illuminated by starlight. "In my previous life, we spent two hundred years together and I never told you how beautiful you are."
Yuhan turned, surprise clear on his face. "Beautiful?"
"Yes. Your eyes especially—like liquid silver. I used to watch you during meetings and wonder how no one else seemed to notice." Kai felt his cheeks heat. "I thought I was being subtle."
"You weren't." Yuhan laughed softly. "I noticed. I just... didn't know what to do with it. We were in the middle of wars, alliances, constant crisis. There was never a right time."
"And now?"
"Now we have time. Not much, but some." Yuhan shifted closer. "Can I try something?"
"Anything."
Yuhan leaned in slowly, giving Kai every opportunity to pull away. Their lips met softly, tentatively, like they were both afraid the moment might shatter.
When they broke apart, Yuhan rested his forehead against Kai's. "I've wanted to do that for two hundred years."
"Only two hundred? I've wanted it for longer." Kai cupped Yuhan's face. "Kiss me again."
This time there was no hesitation. Yuhan's hands tangled in Kai's hair, pulling him closer. Kai's arms wrapped around Yuhan's waist, holding him like he might disappear.
They kissed until they were both breathless, until the stars had moved across the sky, until Master Jian's voice called from the hall: "If you two are done making out on the cliff edge, some of us are trying to sleep!"
They broke apart, laughing.
"He knew we were here the whole time," Yuhan said.
"Of course he did. He's Master Jian." Kai stood, offering his hand. "Come on. Let's go inside."
They walked back to the hall hand in hand, neither willing to let go just yet.